International Champions Cup: Who, where and what you need to know

Pre-season is in full-flight right now and this coming weekend kicks-off the latest edition of the International Champions Cup.  It might have a jazzy title, but what exactly is it?

Launched in 2013, the ICC sees Europe’s biggest teams strut their stuff in China, Australia, USA as well as in Europe.

Split into three groups, Manchester United and Borussia Dortmund will get the action underway in Shanghai on Friday night.

Eight sides took part in the first two editions, but last year saw the competition almost double to 15 teams.

Real won this event in 2013, with Man United prevailing in 2014 and PSG last year.

And as is the modern way with football, the tournament has gone bigger again for 2016 with 17 clubs taking part this summer.

In Australia, Tottenham, Juventus, Atletico Madrid and Melbourne Victory will take part.

Spurs and Juve will play twice, with Madrid and Melbourne taking to the pitch once, all at the MCG.

Over in China, Manchester United and Manchester City will continue their preparations under new management, when they play in a three-team group alongside Borussia Dortmund.

But it is in America where the competition has really kicked on.

Ten teams – Leicester City, Chelsea, Liverpool, PSG, Bayern Munich, Inter, AC Milan, Celtic plus Barcelona and Real Madrid will compete in the States, with a few games in Europe too.

Barcelona play Leicester in Stockholm on August 3, before London’s Wembley stadium hosts Liverpool versus the Catalan giants on August 6.

Scotland and Ireland get in on the act as well, with Glasgow, Limerick and Dublin each hosting one Celtic fixture.

Each side will play three games across the US and Europe and by then we might have some idea of who’s in what shape for the coming campaign.

Full International Champions Cup Fixture List:

Australia:

Melbourne Victory v Juventus – July 23

Juventus v Tottenham – July 26

Tottenham v Atletico Madrid – July 29

China:

Manchester United v Borussia Dortmund – July 22

Manchester City v Manchester United – July 25

Borussia Dortmund v Manchester City – July 28

USA & Europe

Celtic v Leicester – July 23

Inter Milan v PSG – July 24

Real Madrid v PSG – July 27

Bayern Munich v AC Milan – July 27

Chelsea v Liverpool – July 27

Celtic v Barcelona – July 30

Real Madrid v Chelsea – July 30

Inter Milan v Bayern Munich – July 30

Liverpool v AC Milan – July 30

PSG v Leicester – July 30

Barcelona v Leicester – August 3

Bayern Munich v Real Madrid – August 3

AC Milan v Chelsea – August 3

Liverpool v Barcelona – August 6

Inter Milan v Celtic – August 13

For all the latest International Champions Cup odds click here.